Joint or seam construction for drier felts and the like



Oct. 24, 1933. J. K. DIAMOND 1,932,203

JOINT 0R SEH CONSTRUCTION FOR DRIER FELTS 'AND THE LIKE Filed nay 2e, 193s wwf-W11 Patented Oct. 24, 1933 TES UNITE-Di ESTA JONT R SEARI CONSTRUCTION FOR DRIER' FELTS AND THE LIKEv James K. Diamond,V Grand Rapids, Mich., as-

signor'to- Clipper Belt Lacer Rapids, Mich.

Company,v Grand:

Application May 26 1933. Serial? No. 673,003"

9 Claims.

The mainy objects of this invention areto providea joint or seam -or coupling for drier felts, laundry ironing machine aprons and the like by means of which the ends of the felt or apron may be joined so that the strain upon the felt or.

'apron is minimized' and the pull thereon distributedover a substantial surface and, further, in

a manner that permits the ready attachment of the joint members and inwhich they are s0 joined that the working surface'is not obstructed.

A further object is to provide a structure havingv these advantages inltvhich the joint members maybe prepared in a factory equipped for that purpose and readily applied in a paper millv or laundry or-other place of use.

Objects relating to details and economies of my invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims. l

A structure which isa preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentaryY plan view of a drier felt embodying my improved joint or seam.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section on a line corresponding to line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective View of one of the seam or joint members.

Fig. 4 is a second perspective View further illustrating the joint member.

in the accompanyingl drawing, 1, 1 represent the parts to be joined, a drier feltA being conventionally illustrated. There are' tvvo joint members for each joint but as these are duplicates, a description of one will suflice.

The joint member or lacing unit comprises a strip of fabric 2, preferably a good quality of canvas, oi a length corresponding to the width of the drier felt or other part to be joined. This lapped upon the sides of the drier felt portion 1. A filler strip or filler 4 is arranged in the fold With its outer edge 5 in abutting engagement With the bight 6 of the strip. This filler strip is of substantial width and is preferably arranged with its inner edge 7 in abutting engagement with ness so that the prongs 8 of the loop-like lacing strip is foldedupon itself, the edge portions ofv the strip providing attaching flaps 3r which are hooks or lacer elements 9 may be embeddedtherein. These vlacing hooks 9 are of Well-knownv type,- andv they are arranged With their arms overlapping opposite sides ofthe folded strip 2 and their prongs embedded therein and in the filler strip 4.

Iy preferably providea row of ,stitches 10 through the fabric and ller strip between the prongs and the edge of the fabric. This results in a very secure connection for the lacing hooks l and the pull on the lacing hooks is not only sustained by the fabric 2 but by the iiller and the pull on this filler is sustained by the bight of the fabric so that the seam members are capable of sustaining very heavy. loads Without tearing, or` the hooks pulling out.

The flaps 3 are preferably attached by through stitches 1l, the result being that a very secure attachment is had through the felt and one which distributes the pull thereon over a substantiall area.

The two seam or joint members are arranged with their hooks in overlapping relation and coupled by the pivot or coupling pin 12. This pivotl pin lies in the central plane of the parts 4joined and therefore the pull thereon is most effectively lpositioned to prevent distortion and to secure the maximum strength. l

The filler strip is of somewhat less'thickness than the part to be joined so that the hooks or metal parts lie Within the planes of the sides of the felt or other parts joined so that the work carried by the felts or aprons is not subjected to undue pressure at the joint. Flaps may be provided to cover the metal parts, ifxdesired. i

With this arrangement of partathe scam members maybe manufactured and the hooks applied in `a factory'equipped for the purpose and sentA out in strips of considerable length to beicut to the desired sise or length for the parts to' be joined. This results in great economy both in the manufacture and in the application of the joint.

Ifhavev not attempted to illustrate or describe various modications or adaptations of my invention which I contemplate as it is'believed that this disclosurewill' enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, vvhat I claim' as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is: f

1. A drier felt joint comprising coacting joint members, each joint member comprising a strip of fabric folded uponitself and of a length approximating the Width of the felt, a drier feltv portion disposed between the folded parts of the fabric, a iiller strip of fibrous material and of substantial thickness disposed in the bight of the folded strip with its inner edge in abutting relation to the end of the felt portion, ther nller strip Y being of less width than thel folded fabric, the

portions of the fabric projecting beyond the filler v strip constituting securing flaps lapped upon op -posite sides of the felt portion and secured thereto `by through stitches, loop-like lacing hooks, the arms of which terminate in prongs engaging the joint member from opposite sidesv thereof and embedded in said filler strip, there being a row of stitches through the fabric and filler strip between the prongs of said lacing hooks and the bight edge of said joint member, the lacing hooks of the joint members being arranged in interl lapping relation, and a coupling pin engaging the interlapped ends of said lacing hooks, the coupling pin being in the central longitudinal plane of the felt.

Y 2. A drier felt joint comprising coacting joint Q l members, each joint member comprising a strip of fabric folded upon itself, a drier felt portion disposed between the folded parts of thefabric, a filler strip of fibrous material and of substantial thickness disposed in the bight of the folded strip with its inner edge in abutting relation to the end of the felt portion, the ller strip being of less width than the folded fabric, the po-` tions of the fabric projecting beyond the filler strip constituting securing flaps lapped upon opposite sides of the felt portion and secured thereto, loop-like lacing hooks, the arms of which terminate in prongs engaging the joint member from opposite sides thereof and embedded in said filler strip, the lacing hooks of the joint members being arranged in interlapping relation, and a coupling pin engaging the interlapped ends of said lacing hooks. v

3. VIn a' joint'of the classdescribed in combination with theparts to be joined, of joint members each comprising av strip of fabric folded upon' it- `A self, a illers'trip of flexible material disposed in the folded strip with its outer edge in supporting engagement with the bightthereof, the filler strip being' of less Widththan the folded fabric, the portions of the'fabric projecting beyond the filler strip constituting securing naps lapped upon opposite sides of apart to be joined and secured theretoby through stitches, loop-like lacing hooks, the arms of which terminate in prongs engaging the joint member from opposite sides thereof and i embedded in saidfiller strip, there being a row of stitches through the fabric and filler strip between .the prongs of said lacing hooks and the bight edge of said joint member, the lacing hooks of the joint members being arranged in interlapping relation, and a coupling pin engaging yond the filler strip constituting securing flaps lapped upon opposite sides of a part to be joined and secured thereto, loop-like lacing hooks, the arms of which terminate in prongs engagingI the joint member from opposite sides ,thereof and embedded in said ller strip, the prongs on the loop-like lacing hooks penetrating the folded over portions of the fabric as well as the .ller strip, the lacing hooks of the joint members being arranged in interlapping relation, and a coupling pin engaging the interlapped ends of Vsaid lacing hooks.

5. A joint member for drier felts and the like comprising a strip of fabric folded upon itself and of a length approximating the width of the felt, a ller strip of` fibrous material disposed in the bight of the folded joint with its outer edge in supporting engagement with the bight of the strip, the filler strip being of less width than the folded fabric, the` portions of the fabric projecting beyond the filler strip constituting securing flaps, and loop-like lacing hooks, the arms of which terminate in prongs engaging the joint member from opposite sides thereof and embedded in said filler strip, there being a row of stitches through the fabric and filler strip between the prongs of said Y lacing hooks and the bight edge of said ljoint member. Y

.6. A joint member for drier felts and the likel comprising a strip of fabric folded upon itself and of a length approximating the width of the felt,Y

a filler strip disposed in the bight of the folded joint with its outer edge in supporting engagement with the bight ofthe strip, thefiller stripv being of vless width than the luca fabric, the portions of the fabric projecting beyond the filler strip constituting securing flaps, and loop-like lacing hooks, the arms of whichY terminate in prongs engaging the joint member from opposite sides thereof and embedded in said filler strip, the prongs on the loop-like lacing hooks penetrating the folded overportions of the fabric as well as the filler strip.

'7. A lacing unit comprising a strip offabric folded upon itself and adapted to overlap opposite sides of a Vdrier felt or the/like to be joined, a iller disposed in the fold of said strip between the edge of the felt and the bight of the'strip,l and a set of loop-like lacer elements having arms thereof overlapping opposite sides of said lacing unit and terminating inprongs embedded therein and engaging said filler, the prongs penetrating the folded over portions of the fabric as well as the filler, therebeing a row of stitches through the fabric and nller stripbetweenl the prongs and the fold of said lacing unit.

8. A lacing unit comprising a strip of fabric folded upon itself and adapted to overlap opposite sides of a drier felt or the like to be joined, a filler disposed in the fold of-said strip between the edge of the felt and thebight orl fold of the strip, and a set of loop-like lacer elements having arms thereof overlapping lopposite sides of said lacing unit and terminating in prongs embedded therein and engaging'said lfiller, the prongs penetrating the folded over portions of the fabric as Well as the filler.V `Y

- 9. A lacing unit ,comprising a front portion of substantial thickness' and a par of flaps adapted to overlap opposite sides of a par to be joined for attachment te the front portion, the front portion including a filler kof substantial thickness adapted to abut the edge of the part to be joined, anda set of ,loep-like lacer elements having arms thereof overlapping the opposite sides f the lacm loo ing unit Vand `terminating in prongs embedded f therein, the prongs penetrating lthe folded over portions of the fabric as Wellas the ller.

JAMES DIAMOND. 

